Weatherstripping for double hung windows



Aug. 9, 1960 D. J. CAMERON WEATHERSTRIPPING FOR DOUBLE HUNG WINDOWS Filed D90. 16, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. DONALD J CAMERON WMQO ATTORNEY Aug. 9, 1960 D. J. CAMERON 2,948,028

WEATHERSTRIPPING FOR DOUBLE HUNG WINDOWS Filed Dec. 16, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 wmx FIG. 3

DONALD J. CAMERON BYINVENTOR PATENT AGENT WEATHERSTRIPPING FOR nountn HUNG wmnows 9 Filed Dec. 16, 1957, Ser. No. 703,005

3 Claims. (Cl. 20-52- 1) This invention relates to windows and more particularly to the Weatherstripping of double hung windows and to the adjustment of such windows and weatherstripping.

Double hung windows of the frameless sash type are well known in the art. In such a window, upper and lower glass panels are slideably fitted into tracks in two opposite sash side rails which in turn are fixedly secured to the window frame. The two glass panels move up and down in suitable tracks provided in the sash side rails, and these tracks are separated from each other by a dividing wall upon which is mounted a Weatherstripping element adapted to frictionally engage both glass panels. Each glass panel is generally provided with a pair of balance springs which are housed in separate channels in the sash side rails, these springs being adapted to counteract the force of gravity on the glass panels and permit the panels to assume any desired position between closed and fully open.

The advantages of this type of window construction are well known and lie generally in their minimum size and cost.

Effective Weatherstripping of such windows has presented a problem to the art, however, and efforts to solve this problem have been made in such prior US. patents as No. 2,588,432 to Tomsche and No. 2,601,476 to Weatherstone.

Both of these prior patents disclose a window of the class described, having a Weatherstripping means. In both of these patents it has been recognized that the Weatherstripping which frictionally engages both glass panes, is desirable a resilient metal strip mounted upon the central dividing wall between the two pane guide tracks, and whichmay by application ofa suitable force by means of a. special tool be increased or decreased not only to improve the efficiency of the Weatherstripping in sealing out drafts, but also to provide a precise balance between the upward pull of the balancing springs and the downward force of gravity as well as preventing any rattling of the panels in the guide tracks.

In practice, however, it has been found difficult if not impossible to obtain a uniform adjustment of such Weatherstripping over the entire vertical length thereof so that the shipping bears equally against the glass at all points of contact. An uneven contact can result in drafts but will more likely manifest itself in an uneven motion of the glass both up and down. In addition the use of the special tool presented by Weatherstone and required by implication in Tomsche which must be applied to a particular part of the Weatherstripping and different parts to increase or decrease the tension, will be found to he difficult in the hands of the unskilled person, and the results as stated above often unsatisfactory.

It is the principal object of this invention therefore to provide a Weatherstripping means for a double hung frameless sash window which will permit close, easy and uniform adjustment Without requiring special tools or experience,

It is. another important object of the invention to provide such a Weatherstripping means as will be easily and economically installed.

It isa further object of the invention to provide such a Weatherstripping means by which the engagement between the glass and Weatherstrip may be increased or decreased by the appropriate action of the same adjusting means.

These and other advantageous objects will become apparent through a construction of the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the attached drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a front elevation of a sashless window installation. embodying features of the invention.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary elevation with some parts shown in cross section taken at point A of Figure 1, showing both upper and lower window panes in a raised position.

Figure 3 is a transverse section taken along line 3-3 of Figure 2 and Figure 4 is a side elevation, with some parts broken away, of the lower right-hand corner of the Window shown in Figure l.

stripping element being adjustable to increase or decrease the contact with the glass by means of a plurality of adjusting means substantially equal space over the length of the element.

In greater detail and referring now to the drawings 1 indicates a window frame fixed into position, which may be of any standard design and construction. The frame is herein shown as being of wood but may equally well be made of metal or other material. Two sash side rails 4 are mounted along the vertical edges of the frame in the manner shown in Figure 3. These sash side. rails are most commonly made of aluminum but again they may be formed of any other metal or material if desired.

The sash side rail comprises an inner wall 12, an outer wall 13, and an intermediate wall 14 as maybeseen by reference to Figure3, these walls defining between them, two verticaltracks 15 and 16. Glass panes 6 and 6A are adapted to slide in these vertical tracks. A weather- Stripping element 2, preferably formed of resilient sheet materials is mounted upon the intermediate wall 14. The intermediate wall itself is formed with an outward taper 20 terminating in innermost corners 21 and 22 and a substantially flat outer surface 30. The Weatherstripping element may be of substantially arcuate or angular cross section and is mounted so as to contact both projecting corners 21 and 22 as by means of a plurality of screws 5, and similar longitudinally spaced screws (not shown). The Weatherstripping element so mounted on the intermediate wall as to contact the projecting corners must, also according to the manner of this invention be provided with a clearance between the outermost surface of the intermediate wall and the weathers-tripping element, this clearance being indicated in the drawings as the space 26. A pressure bar 3 may be interposed between the Weatherstripping element 2 and the screw heads 5 so as to distribute the pressure exerted by the screws evenly over the length of the Weatherstripping between screws, this pressure bar presenting a contact surface to the Weatherstripping which if the Weatherstripping is arcuate will also be circular but of greater radius and if the Weatherstripping is angular, will also be angular but of a greater angle.

be understood that this dimension is preferred and should not be construed as limiting the invention. The inner pane of glass 6 is provided with a lower sash rail 7 into which a pin 9 is inserted as maybe seen by reference to Figure 4. The pin in turn is attached to the lower end of the steel balance spring 8, the upper end of which is at-' tached to the upper end of the sash side rail 4. A washer 10 is required to eliminate galling between the pressure bar 3 and the sash rails of which the lower rail 7 is one. 11 represents a plastic or rubber filler block required to close the gap betwen pin 9 and the glass 6.

The resilient Weatherstripping element 2 is mounted in the position shown inFigure 3 by the screws which are fitted through the pressure bar and secured into the intermediate wall of the sash side rails 4. Since the radius of the lower side of pressure bar 3 which contacts the Weatherstripping is greater than the radius of the stainless steel Weatherstrip 2 and since the other surface 30 of the intermediate wall of the sash side rail is flat, tightening of the screw 5 will force the pressure bar 3 closer to the sash side rail 4 and cause the edges of the Weatherstripping 2 to move outwards increasing the pressure against the glass 6. Alternatively loosening the screw 5 will decrease this frictional engagement.

The advantages presented by the present construction over that ofthe prior art are obvious. Instead of requiring the application of special tools at specially designated points to increase or decrease the engagement between the Weatherstripping and the glass, it is merely necessary to tighten or loosen the screws. This can be done without special tools, knowledge or instructions.

The invention has been specifically described with reference to preferred embodiments including a weatherstripping element of substantially arcuate cross section. As has been suggested however, the Weatherstripping may be of other cross section, for instance angular. The invention contemplates a Weatherstripping of any cross section as will be capable of pivoting about the two innermost corners already described and providing a clearance with the fiat outermost surface of the intermediate wall. If an angular Weatherstripping element is used, it will require other and obvious modification-design of the fastening means and of the pressure bar. Other variations will become apparent to those skilled in this art and such embodiments of the invention as come within the scope and purview of the appended claims are to be considered as part of this invention.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. A double hung window structure comprising a window frame having opposite sides to each of which is attached a channel member, said channel member having inner, outer and intermediate walls connected by a base member and defining two vertically extending tracks therebetween, glass window panes vertically slidable in said tracks, said intermediate wall being formed with a substantial taper converging outwardly toward said channel base and a substantially flat surface defining thereby a pair of projecting inner comers, a Weatherstripping element formed of resilient strip material secured to and. straddling said intermediate wall, and a plurality of secur ing means substantially equally spaced vertically along said channel member securing said Weatherstripping element to said substantially flat surface of said intermedi ate wall and beingadjustable inwardly. and outwardly, said Weatherstripping element being spaced at its middle portion from said substantially flat surface of said intermediate wall, contacting said intermediate wall at its projecting inner corners, and terminating in outer edge portions extending beyond said projecting corners into said tracks adjacent opposite sides of said intermediate wall to frictionally engage opposing faces of said glass panes, and said securing means coacting with said weatherstripping element middle portion whereby inward and outward movement of said securing means influences corresponding inward and outward movement of said middle portion, which latter movement causes said weatherstripping element outer edges portions to pivot about said intermediate wall projecting corners, moving generally transversely of said glass pane opposing faces to vary the pressure exerted by said outer edge portions against said faces.

2. A window structure as recited in claim 1 wherein each said Weatherstripping element is of arcuate configuration.

3. A window structure as recited in claim 2 including a pressure bar mounted upon each said Weatherstripping element, said pressure bar having .a Weatherstripping contacting surface of substantial arcuate configuration the radius of which exceeds that of said Weatherstripping element, said securing means passing through and securing said pressure bar and Weatherstripping element and extending into said intermediate wall whereby adjustment of said securing means increases or decreases the pressure exerted by said pressure bar on said Weatherstripping element moving it inward or outward of the intermediate wall.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,601,476 Weatherstone June 24, 1952 2,740,171 McCubbin Apr. 3, 1956 

